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St.Martin's College - panoramioPhoto: Kathy Calm · CC BY 3.0
Colleges in and near Lacey

Lacey is home to Saint Martin's University

Saint Martin's University (1,405 students on campus) is inside the city. About 6% of Lacey’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Washington (6%).

Saint Martin's University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Lacey. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
9,541 students on campus
Nearest college
0.9 mi
Saint Martin's University
Residents in college
6%
About the same as WA (6%)
Nearest community college
6.3 mi
South Puget Sound · $5,252 tuition
Nearest public university
6.3 mi
South Puget Sound · $5,252 in-state
Median household income
$91K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Lacey

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university in LaceySaint Martin's University has 1,405 students on campus in Lacey, 52% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 6.3 miles awaySouth Puget Sound Community College in Olympia: tuition and fees $5,252 a year for Washington residents.In-state price at South Puget SoundLiving in Washington, South Puget Sound Community College charges $5,252 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $5,813. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Washington (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Lacey

One private college within 0.9 miles, one public college within 8.7 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miPierce College DistrictSouth Puget SoundThe Evergreen State CollegeLacey
University or collegeCommunity college
Saint Martin's UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,405 on campus · In Lacey90%admitted$28knet price52%graduate$62kearningsSouth Puget Sound Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,236 on campus · 6.3 mi · Olympia$9knet price44%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $5,252 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.The Evergreen State CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 1,960 on campus · 8.7 mi · Olympia96%admitted$24knet price41%graduate$45kearningsPierce College DistrictCommunity college · Public · 3,940 on campus · 13.9 mi · Lakewood$10knet price31%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $5,418 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Lacey’s median household income ($90,625) falls.

South Puget Sound Community College6.3 mi · Olympia · sticker $17,888 · tuition $5,252$11,781a year
Pierce College District13.9 mi · Lakewood · sticker $18,085 · tuition $5,418$14,309a year
The Evergreen State College8.7 mi · Olympia · sticker $28,477$27,346a year
Saint Martin's UniversityIn Lacey · sticker $62,449$30,232a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Lacey: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Saint Martin's UniversitySouth Puget SoundThe Evergreen State CollegePierce College District
Pierce College District31% graduate$48k earnings$12k typical debt
South Puget Sound Community College44% graduate$45k earnings$11k typical debt
The Evergreen State College41% graduate$45k earnings$20k typical debt
Saint Martin's University52% graduate$62k earnings$22k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Lacey

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Saint Martin's University, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Computer science 31%Health professions 15%Business 9%Education 7%Engineering 6%Parks & recreation 6%Everything else 26%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and Operations40 graduates a year
$68k4 yrs out
Psychology, General35 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods27 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Civil Engineering16 graduates a year
$85k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections15 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering14 graduates a year
$92k4 yrs out
Social Work14 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services8 graduates a year
$61k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Lacey

Is Lacey a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Lacey residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Washington (6). The largest campus in the city, Saint Martin's University, has 1,405 students on campus.

What colleges are in Lacey?

Saint Martin's University is inside the city. South Puget Sound Community College is 6.3 miles away in Olympia.

What is the closest community college to Lacey, and what does it cost?

South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, 6.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,252 a year for Washington residents; the federal net price, $9,132, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does South Puget Sound Community College cost if we live in Washington?

Tuition and fees are $5,252 a year in-state and $5,813 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,757 (under $30,000 income) to $16,766 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Lacey. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →